Puppy mill - 123 dogs and puppies
Lakeland, FL (US)

Incident Date: Saturday, Nov 22, 2008
County: Polk

Charges: Misdemeanor
Disposition: Alleged

Alleged: Carolyn Bragg

Case Updates: 1 update(s) available

A Lakeland woman was charged with 123 counts of animal neglect, 1 count of Offering Dogs For Sale Without A Health Certificate, and 3 counts of Tampering With Evidence after police say they found 117 dogs and puppies, 5 cats, and a bird in her home in deplorable conditions. The tampering charges are related to Bragg and Goodman attempting to hide three animals while the animals were being rescued from the property.

Polk County Sheriff's Office Agricultural Crimes deputies and Animal Control officers found the puppies Saturday afternoon at 57-year-old Carolyn Bragg's home on Lunn Road.

Investigators say Bragg was selling the puppies out of her home and they went to the house after a woman told police she purchased a puppy from Bragg and didn't receive a health certificate.

Deputies say the 117 dogs and puppies (a mixture of Pomeranians, Yorkshire terriers, Dachshunds, Pugs, and others), 5 cats and 1 bird (Indian Ringneck Parrot) are receiving medical check-ups and getting cleaned by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control staff.

Investigators say the living conditions at the home were extremely poor, for both animals and humans. Bragg and her daughter 39-year-old Sue-Ann Goodman, and Goodman's 12-year-old daughter were living in the home. The 12-year-old daughter has been placed into the custody of the Florida Department of Children and Families who were called to the home.

Police say the initial investigation shows that Bragg had become overwhelmed and unable to properly care for the animals.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office says the three structures on the property, a wood framed home, a metal shed, and an older model travel trailer, were all in deplorable condition, visibly infested with cockroaches, and in a very unsanitary and very unkempt/disorganized condition and odor of soured feces and animal urine were evident inside and outside the main house.

Animals were kept in cages and crates, some stacked two high, both inside and outside the home, some roamed the property. Rat infestation in outdoor areas of the property was also evident.

Case Updates

References

• « FL State Animal Cruelty Map

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